Terrified: Could it be MS?

[portionsforfoxes]

Hi! First of all, sorry if this post is inappropriate. I'm a 23 year old male. For almost a month now, I've been experiencing symptoms that are worryingly similar to those that are characteristic of MS. It all started after I began weightlifting...a few days after my 4th training session, both of my arms and hands started to tingle nonstop. It would get worse if I bent my elbows but it's pretty much always there. My arms would be totally numb in the mornings but then the sensation would come back after I moved around a bit. I just attributed it to the weightlifting. The thought of going to a doctor didn't even occur to me.

Then that same sensation spread to my legs... prickling/tingling/tickling but no numbness. Went to the doctor for a scheduled physical. She said, ah, you're fine, it's because of the weightlifting, just take ibuprofen and you'll be okay.
Went to a chiropractor/acupuncturist. He told me it was spinal cord compression. Had an acupuncture session which didn't help and cost a lot of money. He told me it could be a day or so before I started feeling better.

Well, it didn't get any better and I began to have severe neck pain (in the region where I would have been holding the squat bar in the gym, for the record). I went to an urgent care center because it had gotten to the point where I was having extreme trouble sleeping; couldn't relax, had to turn over every 5 seconds. At the urgent care center they took an x-ray and discovered I'd lost some of the curvature in the upper part of my spine. The doctor told me it was likely because of muscle spasms in my back from the weight training; she put me on a 5-day course of prednisone and prescribed muscle relaxants. I hadn't actually felt any spasms but she said I was having them. The prednisone seemed to help a little bit, but I still felt terrible. I also developed lower back pain during this interval.

Went to another chiropractor. He did some adjustments, which did help significantly with my back pain, which is almost gone at this point. The adjustments did nothing for the tingling. It's also gotten a little harder for me to walk because of pain in my knees and feet. The chiro said this was probably because I needed to adapt to my pelvis having been adjusted. I also have awful knees anyway (I've had two meniscus tears which weren't provoked by anything) and legendarily flat feet, I plan to get custom orthotics soon.

The feelings of prickling, tingling, and pain are pretty much always there in all four extremities. It's not usually constant but I'll feel a buzz or a quick stab of pain every couple of minutes in some part of my body. I've read somewhere that it's uncommon for MS to strike all four extremities at once but I don't know. I also have had really bad headaches for the last couple of days that seem to be located mostly in the back part of my head.

I'm not experiencing any particular weakness or loss of coordination or brain fog; I don't feel more fatigued than usual; I haven't had any problems with my vision. Still, I'm really concerned that I could have MS. I'm not asking for a diagnosis and I have a doctor's appointment on Monday; hopefully they'll schedule me an MRI or refer me to a neurologist. I just want to know if my symptoms sound similar to those any of you had when you were being diagnosed with MS. I was adopted and have no idea if any of my biological relatives had it.

TL;DR: Tingling, prickling feeling in arms and legs that coincided with the beginning of a weight training program. Numbness only in my arms in the mornings which is resolved by moving around. No cognitive or visual impairment or fatigue. X-ray showed abnormally straight spine. Prednisone and muscle relaxants didn't really help.

[portionsforfoxes]

Went to an urgent care clinic today. Told the doctor all of my symptoms, the timeline, etc. He told me he doesn't see how there could be a connection between the weightlifting and my current symptoms given the amount of my body that is affected (one of my newer symptoms is frequent urination -- not incontinence, but constantly needing to go pee). I'll be calling the neurologist he recommended tomorrow.

All of this means that I almost definitely won't be able to start graduate school abroad as I had planned to do at the end of August. I am crushed and devastated and I will probably lose my mind with worry and sadness. I'm just holding out hope that it's something that can be resolved.  

[immisceo]

It's not frustrating when people understand we're coming from a place of caring and experience. Your fear and anxiety is real, so it's not a case of your questions being any less valid than anyone else's here, MS or not. We answer everyone honestly and to the best of our collective ability. I would add, however, that if you are having suicidal ideation at present, please prioritise that. That is extremely important to have professionally cared for, without hesitation. You don't have to live like that.

If you are dealing with such heavy anxiety, it's entirely possible that a clear MRI would only provide a brief break in the anxiety. Then it would be something else. It's the underlying thought processes that may need to be tackled. I've recently had to hit this head-on myself. A year into CBT, I'm getting the hang of it, but it's a work in progress!

None of this is to say I know was is or isn't organically going on with you, just a reminder to see after all aspects of your health, not just the ones that show up in tests and lab reports. All the best for your appointment tomorrow. I hope you are given enough information to make good, informed decisions for yourself going forward.

[portionsforfoxes]

Thank you so much for your answers; I know it must be frustrating for those of you who are successfully battling conditions like MS to come on forums like these and see posts from people like me. I have been depressed to the point of suicidal ideation lately and I'm so anxious to get to the doctor, get the MRI and put all of this drama to rest.

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

What you are describing doesn't sound suggestive or consistent with MS at all to me, typically when sensory issues are in all 4 peripherals and develops over a short time frame (weeks not years) it is 'highly unless likely' to be a neurological condition like MS and more likely to be something else.

It's more likely that you've incorrectly lifted whilst weight training, which isn't uncommon and you've possibly slipped a disc, pinched the nerve or something similar. I'd advice you to refrain from any more lifting for the present, discuss what happened with your doctor, mention the worsening since you've seen a chiropractor etc

I'd also advice you to refrain from reading about MS, as it is highly unlikely MS and it may just lead you to unnecessarily continue to worry about a medical condition you most likely do not have...

Cheers..........JJ

[Katya4]

To me, it sounds related to weight lifting. Seeing a doctor about your spine, and especially your neck, would be a good idea. Given that it seems brought on by the lifting.  Worse symptoms when bending elbows could be related to nerves being pinched in the arm at the elbow joint.


I do not think you have to worry about MS at all.

[suspiciouscombo]

But of course. We are all here to help with suggestions. Perhaps repost or "bump" your original post in the neurology forum to catch a few eyes that may have missed your original post.

That said, I do believe the DDD forum might be of value in your case as an initial read.

Best to you ....
Ox SC

[portionsforfoxes]

I did write in the Neurology forum a few days back; unfortunately, no one replied. Thank you for the suggestion about the DDD forum. I really hope that's what it is and not something more serious.

[suspiciouscombo]

Have you reached out and shared your story with Degenerative Disc Disease forum / Neurology?

Just my opinion but I'm thinking that would be a more appropriate forum to reach out right now considering what you shared above.

Ox
SC